There are a few of us that are recovering from a long drawn out toxic spiritual experience so we have informally dubbed ourselves DeTox Church Group. We aren't a church and don't plan to ever become one--but we do have thoughts and resources to share. Don't forget to check out our list of books and blogs we like.

Monday, April 6, 2015

Parachuting Bunnies

photo credit Skydive Milwaukee

Parachuting bunnies. Our former church hired one for their Easter egg hunt this weekend. And it even made the local news (I noticed people holding big yellow cue signs "Laugh" and "Applause" to amp up the hype factor - LOL.). For now they are the hero church reaching out to the community. But for what reason? Is it for their reputation? Only the Lord knows the true motive. As usual our state is 2 years behind California. Does CCC and Channel 7 assume this is a brand new idea fresh off the press like they came up with the original idea themselves? Free at Last was thinking they are trying to replicate the White House easter egg hunt in Washington DC, but even the White House doesn't feel the need to hire a parachuting bunny.

In their advertising campaign, CCC said they would be hosting parachuting bunnies - plural. But alas, it appears it was one bunny who descended the murky sky today into the public park at the Village. By the way, why the Village and not their own property as in former years? Our guess it's because the CCC lawn is shrinking in size due to the fact they have been selling off their land to - what - pay their mortgage? But still, if honesty were an issue, they could have at least billed it in the spirit of truthfulness and said we will have a parachuting bunny - singular - but I suppose I am majoring on a minor with that one.

So check out THIS ARTICLE Free At Last tipped me off to - a story of the parachuting bunny church Easter celebration phenom (i.e. a blatant attempt to lure the masses to church) - yet keep in mind the article was written in 2013, Therefore, CCC's perception of their cutting edge trend is on the decline before they even pretended it was their new and original idea this year. Just saying.

Since CCC is a church we think it odd that there was no mention of Jesus and the Risen Christ in any of their advertising. It was just... Parachuting Bunnies, egg hunts, dancing animals and pictures with the Easter Bunny. Not that reaching out to the community in a way that appeals to them isn't valid. Children do love Easter egg hunts and fictional characters no matter how pagan the origin. Even adults love to join in on the pretend Disney LaLa Land world of make believe. But isn't the death and resurrection of Christ the central idea to the Easter celebration in Christian churches?

What is really irksome for us is the way Ken Wilde preached against the pagan rituals of Easter and Christmas and Halloween the entire time we attended that church while we were raising our children. You either didn't participate in the pagan ritual out of fear or you did it secretly - and adopted the 'what they don't know won't know won't hurt them' attitude. (It's called not allowing religious leaders to steal your child's childhood thank you.) Can you imagine how it took some of the joy out of the holidays? On the other hand, our secret participation made it kind of special in a mysterious clandestine sort of way. But still, some of us can't help but feel ripped off in a way, as we observe Ken has lifted the ban on pagan rituals during holidays now that he has grandchildren, especially now that he is reaping such praise by doing it sooooo publically. We can totally identify with the Psalmist that mentions gnashing teeth.

Anyway, we hope they are happy that they got press over the weekend - public honor and praise - hailed as the hero church. But where was channel 7 with their cue cards when CCC wasn't paying their mortgage a few years ago which was published in the Idaho Statesman? Not that it was a story in itself. What makes it a story of interest is how the lead pastor family who controls the finances continued to spend extravagantly taking vacations in Hawaii, attending international church conferences, and parading designer outfits on instagram for anyone to see. And that's just what was noticeable at a distance. Apparently that isn't considered news but parachuting bunnies sure fits the bill.

The worship leader worker bee is on the channel 7 video as saying it's one of the largest easter egg hunts in the nation. Whaaat? If you Google easter egg hunts in the USA and you will see the potential for much larger turn outs. They flatter themselves with their elevated sense of importance. It may certainly be the largest Easter egg hunt in the Treasure Valley - but I'm sure their numbers pale on a national level. But, in their minds, they are the Big fish in a small pond.

So why did they host it at the Village? And how much did that cost? (Hey, let's not pay the mortgage this month and that should cover the expense.) Is it because their front and back lawns are being sold off in portions? No one mentioned that on the channel 7 glowing report. And why doesn't channel 7 investigate why CCC's property is shrinking? Why is this not news? I think it's time to call channel 6 on your side and tell them something fishy has been going on at 2760 E. Fairview Avenue for years now. Or there is always the Truth Squad with channel 2. Something tells me they could get to the bottom of the weirdness. We can just mention how KGW was in cohoots with scammer Jeremiah C. Yancy who is a wanted criminal in at least 4 states under different aliases for conning people to invest in his real estate ponzi scheme. Now that is newsworthy! Just remember you heard it here first. ;-)

10 comments:

FreeAtLast
said...

Here's to Detox for writing such a great article on this new phenomenon of Churches turning Easter into a show! Do we want to reach our non- Christian communities? Absolutely! If it was another church who was usually in the community serving with outreaches we probably wouldn't question - though parachuting bunnies are a bit much - aren't they? Why can't we ask and observe and ask again because like it or not you represent all of us as Christians in the community. Everything you do that makes people ask questions about our faith affects all of us as believers in the Treasure Valley and beyond with the internet. As a former very involved member I can only imagine all the 'work' for the staff and volunteers - non-family members this was from set up to tear down. Once again they took a holiday away from them by over the top events in one weekend. Friday night a command performance from rock star celebrity pastor - Saturday -early morning event which for some would be most of their entire day to 3. Easter the hugest event most churches have all year long! Multiple services are the norm and again more work by the volunteers of your church. They always wonder why people don't just leave but feel like they escape over the wall from the family -run church! They wear out their people with non-stop events. They have no voice and no vote especially where the money is spent so its so vital for voices like Detox to stand up for them and ask questions: why does the church who was taught that Easter Bunnies were wrong and its not about the chocolate - was preached from the pulpit is now having an event all about the bunnies and chocolate? Just asking? Don't worry we don't expect an answer as we already know. Is it every wind of doctrine or just whats trending now to get your numbers up? How can your congregation take the wind a'blowin over there?

Wow! That describes it perfectly! I remember hearing there all the time 'whats wrong with being out of balance?' They liked being out of balance. It was when we got out of there and started thinking for ourselves that we saw what was wrong with that:1. You didn't take care about other people in your lives such as children, siblings or spouses. Its like you were having an affair with your church. Relationships all around you suffered.2. You start seeing the world through your Pastors glasses and that may make you stubble or fall. What he thinks - we think.3. You start to lose your own sense of self. I was so messed up when I first got out I could barely see my reflection in my mirror. I wish I was kidding!4. You never stop to think what harm 'overchurching' may be causing you. You are so busy running to the church and back home you cannot do critical thinking any longer - which is exactly what they want. i.e. - the ability to ask questions and stand back and survey a situation. Getting yourself off auto-pilot5. You lose your sense of self with proper boundaries - likes and dislikes of your own. Your gifts and talents are used at a whim by leaders and you are 'mined for your gold' for their uses.6. You become a robot who has no sense of balance in anything --its all or nothing thinking!7. Wreckage starts happening around you in your career, goals and dreams being pushed aside and just like the drug addict you are - you don't care!You'd have an intervention but you just don't have the time you have to go and stuff eggs with candy!8. Most Important of all- you lose your personal relationship with the Lord. The entire reason you got caught up in that place. Corporate Goals are all you swept up into - the larger the event - the bigger the throng of people the better. Where's Jesus you start to ask as you get out and you realize I lost Him somewhere along the way!

FreeAtLast - everything you are saying is so on point! I would love to share your list of "what's wrong with that" as a blog post - it sums it all up so very well. Just say the word and it's done!

Harvard Bound - Binge Church! You hit the nail on the head my friend - that is exactly their MO!! If we ever use that we will certainly give you the credit!! THAT could be a great BLOG TITLE as in bingechurch.com! Wowzers!

I can even see a twitter account called Binge Church! Ha! In fact, let's start one - can you imagine the fun?! You'd be amazed at some of the twitter accounts ppl have come up with. I was just about to share a few in this comment but I am now getting an 'aNOINting that it'd be a great blog post so check it out there!

Great question Seen Too Much! Our thought is that they felt the need to host the big Easter day for the community at the local Village park to keep the momentum going from previous years. - After all, they have built up a reputation as a giving church who really only cares about themselves, I mean, the common man. They couldn't host it this year across Eagle Road on their own property due to the fact big chunks of it have been sold off to help fund the lifestyle of the head pastor family - oh I'm sorry - I mean to pay the mortgage that they quit paying in 2013 was it? Someone bailed them out but WHO? Our educated, yet humble guess is their celebrity cousin from Seattle who is (was) proxy pastor to Justin Bieber must have a cash flow from all the tithers who think his tight jeans with holes in the knees are reaching the youth-apparently they are - such deep intelligence at work here. And Judah's celebrity brand (in whatever form controlled and managed by his mother) may own it now for all we know.